January 2025 AOS Filers

[Edward and Jaycel 890]

9 hours ago, KoreaninHawaii said:

Lol my boss isn't going to be exactly thrilled for me asking for time off again so soon too. Also going to try to get her Philippines passport updated with my last name since the consulate isn't too far away and I will already be there for the day. Might as well try to.

 

You have to do a Report of Marriage (ROM) with the Philippine Consulate before you can change the name on her passport. At least that's the rule with the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco which is responsible for ROMs from our state

[KoreaninHawaii 59]

5 hours ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

You have to do a Report of Marriage (ROM) with the Philippine Consulate before you can change the name on her passport. At least that's the rule with the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco which is responsible for ROMs from our state

Yeah I just saw that too. I don't think it will be possible to do it in the timeframe by the time I will be in the area but I will still start the process anyhow. Luckly the consulate there will be in charge of ROMs for our area.

[Edward and Jaycel 890]

6 minutes ago, KoreaninHawaii said:

Yeah I just saw that too. I don't think it will be possible to do it in the timeframe by the time I will be in the area but I will still start the process anyhow. Luckly the consulate there will be in charge of ROMs for our area.

 

Yeah most likely not.. The SF Consulate was pretty quick with ours, we received the stamped and signed ROM 11 days after they received it but I think that was exceptionally quick. Here's the post I made about our experience with it:
 

 

[KoreaninHawaii 59]

3 minutes ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

Yeah most likely not.. The SF Consulate was pretty quick with ours, we received the stamped and signed ROM 11 days after they received it but I think that was exceptionally quick. Here's the post I made about our experience with it:
 

 

💓

Won't be a total loss though since I will have to get a few things notarized (some of my copies) and I don't have anyone here who can legally do it here so I should be able to get that at least done when I go.

[Aserc 43]

10 hours ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

You have to do a Report of Marriage (ROM) with the Philippine Consulate before you can change the name on her passport. At least that's the rule with the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco which is responsible for ROMs from our state

Oh wow.. so our marriage cert isnt automatically accepted.  Ill just worry about it when its near expiry 😅

 

And i just checked, nearest consulate to me is in chicago (5hours ++) but they cant cater to me, state where I am is assigned in washington DC which is like 9h+ travel. Phew! 

[Edward and Jaycel 890]

1 hour ago, Aserc said:

Oh wow.. so our marriage cert isnt automatically accepted.  Ill just worry about it when its near expiry 😅

 

And i just checked, nearest consulate to me is in chicago (5hours ++) but they cant cater to me, state where I am is assigned in washington DC which is like 9h+ travel. Phew! 

 

Get the ROM process started.... It's only a $25 fee plus the sending and the return postage. It takes PSA 4-6 months to record it so you may as well start now  

[Aserc 43]

2 hours ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

Get the ROM process started.... It's only a $25 fee plus the sending and the return postage. It takes PSA 4-6 months to record it so you may as well start now  

Will do... thanks! Just saw your separate post to that.. I was overthinking of me having to go to DC for it, already got paper trauma of paperworks 😆 and as an expat for almost a decade, its a never ending process! Haha

[Edward and Jaycel 890]

14 hours ago, Aserc said:

Will do... thanks! Just saw your separate post to that.. I was overthinking of me having to go to DC for it, already got paper trauma of paperworks 😆 and as an expat for almost a decade, its a never ending process! Haha

 

Oh yeah... I get it!  I lived in the Philippines with Jaycel for a year and I suffer the same paperwork PTSD LOL

[Rachel n Tyler 158]

I got a question. In the limbo between sending the paperwork and getting your receipt/noa whatever it is haha, I have nothing to show for my legal status here right?

[Crazy Cat 42,697]

15 minutes ago, Rachel n Tyler said:

I got a question. In the limbo between sending the paperwork and getting your receipt/noa whatever it is haha, I have nothing to show for my legal status here right?

If your I-94 authorized stay has expired, you are correct.  Even after submitting a proper I-485, you are out of status, but you are not accruing unlawful presence.  At that point you are in "authorized to stay".

Edited February 9 by Crazy Cat

[Edward and Jaycel 890]

12 minutes ago, Rachel n Tyler said:

I got a question. In the limbo between sending the paperwork and getting your receipt/noa whatever it is haha, I have nothing to show for my legal status here right?

 

Before we sent the AOS package, we scanned everything (including the passport pictures, the checks, etc.) into a PDF file. We also took a picture of the actual FedEx envelope with the shipping label showing it going to USCIS. We emailed all that to Jaycel and she kept a copy of it on her phone along with the proof of delivery from FedEx. Now, is that proof of legal status? No, because if your I-94 has expired, you do not have legal status.

But in the unlikely event that we had an encounter with law enforcement, most of them are decent, common sense people and we would at least have something to show them. I know it sounds extra LOL But with everything immigration related, Jaycel and I always try to go the extra, extra mile  

Edited February 9 by Edward and Jaycel

[Rachel n Tyler 158]

5 minutes ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

Before we sent the AOS package, we scanned everything (including the passport pictures, the checks, etc.) into a PDF file. We also took a picture of the actual FedEx envelope with the shipping label showing it going to USCIS. We emailed all that to Jaycel and she kept a copy of it on her phone along with the proof of delivery from FedEx. Now, is that proof of legal status? No, because if your I-94 has expired, you do not have legal status.

But in the unlikely event that we had an encounter with law enforcement, most of them are decent, common sense people and we would at least have something to show them. I know it sounds extra LOL But with everything immigration related, Jaycel and I always try to go the extra, extra mile  

I should've done that. I made some copies but not the entire thing, sigh. It's not that I'm very nervous, it's just with the administration rn.. I wanna be prepared LOL. Looks like I'll try to avoid law enforcement HAHA

[Edward and Jaycel 890]

3 minutes ago, Rachel n Tyler said:

I should've done that. I made some copies but not the entire thing, sigh. It's not that I'm very nervous, it's just with the administration rn.. I wanna be prepared LOL. Looks like I'll try to avoid law enforcement HAHA

 

In the future (I-751, N-400) make copies of everything you send to USCIS to keep for your records.

 

[Rachel n Tyler 158]

1 minute ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

In the future (I-751, N-400) make copies of everything you send to USCIS to keep for your records.

 

I didn't want to waste paper, but my brain didn't use it's cells and think 'just scan it into a pdf!!' LOL

I guess I'll just stay extra nervous until I get a receipt

[Crazy Cat 42,697]

One more thing.  The period of "authorized stay" is granted by The Attorney General.  I have not found any other source for it in the actual law....

Edited February 9 by Crazy Cat